What do they say about female drivers?

So if you're not a big sports fan there's a lovely young lady racing cars in the IRL. Her name is Danica Patrick and while she hasn't won a race she has won a pole, a top five finish, and rookie of the year. She's easy on the eyes and has done an FHM spread or cover, as well as a couple slightly cheesecake commercials selling car fluids or something --- all I remember from the commercials is her pouty, "did someone fart?" look into the camera, lol.

Anyway, while Danica has made many female firsts in the IRL, winning a pole was not one of them. That's because Sarah Fisher did that back in 2002. While Sarah is pretty, she doesn't have the model figure and good looks of Danica. And perhaps that's a reason why she didn't receive the same hype as Danica. Sarah's 4 year stint in the IRL ended in 2004 as she tried to make the move to NASCAR. Recently Sarah returned to race in the IRL on an open-contract for a race or two. There's talk she will return to the IRL for the 2007 season.

Anyway, the reason I am posting about this is not simply because it seems a bit unfair society/sports media/IRL fans went bat-guano insane for Danica while only going semi-crazy for Sarah (specifically in hype and funding). I'm posting because it seems the sports media is ready to ignite a feud between the two. Take for example this article (from which I have borrow quite a bit of info) which has no problem fanning the flames. However, there's a quote from Danica in 2004 (before Danica entered the IRL) which is hard to ignore: "[Fisher has] done some good things, but then there are some bad things. Like, she struggles, I think, with the racing part of it."

That's right folks, what a beeyaa--not a very nice person. I have no idea if Danica has apologized for that comment but whatever, it was a bad thing to say. I'm sure Sarah had plenty of men questioning her ability but for another female driver to do so, and one who had yet to enter the IRL at the time, it's enough to bring about hair-pulling fisticuffs. I kid, I kid, on the hair-pulling.

Anyway, while an IRL feud between two female drivers may seem a bit sexist (how many times will we hear "catfight" in articles), it might bring in a crapload of viewers. And as many have mentioned, one of NASCAR's popularity is the soap-operatic, at times petty squabbling between its drivers. And let's face it, NASCAR is pretty damn popular.

So I think these two ladies should start a running feud and try to get the better of each other on the track next season. Perhaps Team Sarah and Team Danica shirts are to follow.